Mobile coverage maps show major progress has been made in improving services since the launch of the Better Mobile campaign.

The Daily Post started the campaign back in March to press for better coverage for the businesses and residents of North Wales.

At that time the coverage was substandard in comparison with many other areas of the UK - putting our companies at a disadvantage and leaving many mobile customers forking out hefty bills without receiving a full service.

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Better Mobile Campaign

Rhodri Williams, Ofcom Wales director, said : “Public pressure is helping and the campaign by the Daily Post has had an impact on this in Wales.

“Speaking to operators since the launch, there is now a great willingness to extend the network and there are ambitious plans.

“I think we will see the rate of gains made over the last five months continue for the next 18 months up to the end of 2017.”

So how has 4G mobile coverage changed since March? Have a look at these maps and see what grade we have allocated each operator.

O2

March 2016

O2's 4G coverage in North Wales (Image: Ofcom)

July 2016

O2 network 4G coverage July 2016

The Ofcom coverage maps for O2 show significant change over the past five months.

Back in March the operator had strong coverage in Wrexham and large parts of Flintshire.

But with the exception of a small patch of green around Bangor and south Anglesey there was almost no coverage in any other part of North Wales.

That has changed with their network reaching part of the Llyn Peninsula, additonal areas of Anglesey and has established 4G coverage in parts of Conwy and Denbighshire.

There is still more grey than green on the map and work remains to bring an adequate service to large areas of the region.

A spokesman for O2 said: “We have invested millions of pounds improving our network in the North Wales area as part of our ongoing network modernisation program.

“We’ve been increasing and improving our 2G/3G services as well as rolling out our 4G service.

In recent months we have brought 4G service to many towns including Caernarfon, Holyhead and Llansannan and our 4G network is now available in popular tourist spots such as Wrexham, Llandudno North Shore, Rhyl and Pwllheli.

“We’re continuing to bring improved 2G and 3G service as well as launching 4G to many more parts of North Wales throughout the coming months.

“This is all part of our five-year £3 billion plus network modernisation program until we achieve our target of 98% UK (indoor) population by the end of 2017.”

Starting grade: E

Ending grade: D+

Vodafone

March 2016

Vodafone's 4G coverage in North Wales (Image: Ofcom)

July 2016

Vodafone network 4G coverage July 2016

In March the best description for Vodafone’s 4G coverage in North Wales was ‘patchy’.

Like O2 they offered a reasonably decent service to Wrexham and large areas of Flintshire.

Moving west there were small areas where customers could enjoy a signal in Gwynedd, Conwy and on Anglesey but a million miles away from a comprehensive service.

As with O2 the investment has gone in and paid off with an increase in the availability of a 4G signal across some of North Wales’s major towns like Llandudno, Caernafon, Holyhead, Rhyl and Pwllheli.

It is a positive start to 2016 but the pace of improvement must be maintained to give North Wales the service it deserves.

Starting grade: D

Ending grade: C+

EE

March 2016

EE's 4G coverage in North Wales (Image: Ofcom)

July 2016

EE network 4G coverage July 2016

EE started from a relatively strong position in March with more green on the map than its rival operators.

They have not stood still since then with considerable improvement in their coverage.

This now includes near universal 4G service across Anglesey, a vast majority of the coastal areas covered from Nefyn to Connah’s Quay, and the A55 route in North Wales is well catered for.

But there are still gaps with big patches of grey in more rural areas of Conwy, Gwynedd and Denbighshire.

An EE spokesperson told the Daily Post: “EE has made a commitment to bring our superfast 4G to 95% of the UK landmass, and that includes connecting pe March 2016 ople across North Wales, which is benefitting from our investment in improving mobile service.”

Starting grade: C+

Ending grade: B

Three

March 2016

Three's 4G coverage in North Wales (Image: Ofcom)

July 2016

Three network 4G coverage July 2016

Three had a low starting point with the only coverage in North Wales along the coast and some signal in Wrexham.

Improvements since then have been steady with a gradual expanding of green in the region but no huge leap in coverage.

It is fair to say more investment is needed from the operator or Three will continue to fall behind other rivals in their 4G offering to customers in North Wales.